SERVICE PENSION.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the grant of a service pension under the 1914 warrant, with arrears, to William Johnson, late private, No. 502420, Labour Corps, in view of the fact that he has over 14 years' qualifying service to his credit, including service in Egypt, India, South Africa, and the Great War, and was awarded in November last a permanent disablement pension assessed at 20 per cent.?

This man was ineligible for a service pension from Army funds, as, owing to his failure when called up for service in 1916 to acknowledge a period of service in the Norfolk Regiment amounting to 1 year 308 days, this period did not count as qualifying service. Without this period his qualifying service amounted to less than 14 years. The Army Council are, however, prepared, under their discretionary powers, to allow this period to count for pension and pension will accordingly be granted in due course.